HCMC to regulate conversion of gasoline motorbikes to electric

It has submitted the proposal to the Vietnam Register, where all vehicles are registered, following discussions with a company developing electric engine conversion kits for gasoline motorbikes. Both sides view it as an innovative solution that allows the repurposing of existing vehicles rather than buying new ones as the country shifts to green energy.

There are no official requirements for the conversion of motorbikes, meaning technical assessments have yet to be approved. The department said the initiative aligns with emission reduction goals but requires clear legal foundations to ensure technical safety and environmental protection.

Motorbikes travel on a HCMC street. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Anh

It called on the Vietnam Register to include new provisions and standards related to motorbike engine conversions when amending existing circulars.

Vietnam has over 74 million motorbikes, most of them gasoline-fueled. HCMC alone accounts for more than 11 million, some 85% of which ply its roads daily.

Under its vehicle emission control plan, the city is set to demarcate low-emission zones in downtown areas, Can Gio District and Con Dao Island from 2026, where substandard gasoline and diesel vehicles will be restricted.

In the initial phase the policy will apply to commercial vehicles and ride-hailing services, and includes plans to convert some 400,000 gasoline motorbikes to electric for app-based drivers.